Phoenix

Phoenix
Information
Manufacturer	Maian
Type	Semi-Automatic Pistol
Primary Mode	Single Shot
Secondary Mode	Explosive Shells
Damage (per Hit)	Light - Heavy
Accuracy	High
Ideal Range	Medium
Ammo Type	Pistol Rounds
Magazine Capacity	8 Rounds
Maximum Ammo	800 Rounds
Appears in	Perfect Dark

“	The Maian standard issue sidearm. A flexible gun, the pistol fires standard shots, or explosive shots at no cost of the rest of the magazine.	”

The Phoenix is the standard pistol of the Maians.

Overview

The primary function is a standard pistol shot, similar to the Falcon 2. The secondary function, however, fires small explosive rounds that, unsurprisingly, do more damage. Like the Callisto NTG, this is offset by a lower fire rate, and decreased accuracy. An interesting thing about the Phoenix is that it uses Earth-manufactured pistol rounds in its magazine during gameplay when it should only use Maian Energy Orbs. This is due to the program limitations of the game where most weapons use a universal type of ammunition.

The secondary mode is resisted against Skedar warriors and enemies with shields. However, the secondary mode's explosive bullets is treated like an explosion without the heavy damage in other explosive weapons. This means the secondary mode can be used to destroy certain frail walls such as a mine or rocket. For example, if you ran out of explosives to destroy a wall required to continue the mission, this would normally trigger a failed mission; however, the Phoenix explosion will destroy the wall, averting the Fail to Incomplete. Additionally, the explosion property will also trigger explosions of other explosives such as mines and rockets. Should you encounter an enemy that uses those type of weapons, they can be quickly subdued with simply firing the Phoenix explosive shots, allowing their weapons to explode right in their face while saving a lot of ammunition. A perfect example would be the final Skedar Ruins, where later Skedar soldiers and the Skedar Kings carry the Slayer. Killing the Skedar soldiers with this reduce the amount of fear of getting hit by their rockets. Destroying the Skedar King's rockets with this causes them to retreat back to their healing crown to recharge, giving you instant time to destroy the stalagmites in the crown. In multiplayer, if the Phoenix is in your arsenal and you know your opponent or Bots are going to use explosive weapons, simply spamming the shots right when they approach you can lead to their own death. Additionally, if you are suspecting mines or bouncing grenades, the Phoenix can be an alternative to clear out the explosions that could kill you.

Appearances

Perfect Dark

• Area 51: Rescue (PA) -  Found on the second floor of the storage area, past the double door on the far wall to the right of the cargo lift exit behind the single guard. Can be accessed only by ensuring that the person working on a Robot Interceptor in the previous mission does not die, but is knocked unconscious instead. Upon walking up to the door and waiting (optionally equipping the X-Ray Scanner to see through it), the same person will open the door, and immediately run away scared. Head up the catwalk, through an elevator and past a series of corridors down the only path available, to the far side of a room with rock walls to find the Phoenix hidden away on a small table.
• Pelagic II: Exploration - Elvis carries one.
• Deep Sea: Nullify Threat - Elvis again carries and uses a Phoenix as a backup weapon after he gives the FarSight XR-20 to you.
• Attack Ship: Covert Assault - Elvis dual-wields it throughout the level.
• Skedar Ruins: Battle Shrine - Obtainable by destroying the pillars NOT destroyed after placing the target amplifiers (randomized each playthrough); a double set will appear at the ledge before jumping into the gorge after the first area. It is also seen in the ending cutscene, Elvis hands Joanna this weapon in her demand to kill a Skedar holding her leg.
• WAR! - The Maian soldier the human player controls starts the level with a Phoenix (rather than a Callisto NTG).

Trivia

• The Phoenix Secondary Function and reload is similar to the Ray Gun in Call of Duty: Zombies series, first released in 2008 by developer Treyarch.
• The Secondary Mode is not so effective on Shields.
• The reload sound is a speed up version of the FarSight-XR-20's.
• The Secondary Mode's explosions is treated like an explosion without the heavy damage.

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